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The Best Opening Tracks Ever?

What's the best opening track ever? We asked and listeners responded with roughly 800 picks, posted on our blog and via Twitter.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we gathered a crew to play the best songs that kick off albums. These are often game-changers, from Frank Sinatra to Gang of Four. Join host Bob Boilen as he chats with Tom Moon, author of 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, and Monitor Mix blogger Carrie Brownstein as they look at what an opening track can mean.

Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Gang of Four

Hear "Ether" on YouTube.

Dusty Springfield

Hear "Just a Little Lovin'" on YouTube.

The Flamin' Groovies

Hear "Shake Some Action" on YouTube.

Judas Priest

Hear "Exciter" on YouTube.

Urge Overkill

Hear "Sister Havana" on YouTube.

Miles Davis

Hear "Nefertiti" on YouTube.

Frank Sinatra

Hear "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" on YouTube.

The Rolling Stones

Hear "Gimme Shelter" on YouTube.

Prince & the Revolution

Hear "Let's Go Crazy" on YouTube.

Talking Heads

Hear "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" on YouTube.

Roxy Music

Hear "The Thrill of It All" on YouTube.

Lou Reed

Hear "I Can't Stand It" on YouTube.

Led Zeppelin

Hear "Immigrant Song" on YouTube.

King Crimson

Hear "21st Century Schizoid Man" on YouTube.

Bob Dylan

Hear "Like a Rolling Stone" on ilike.com.

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